U.S. patent application number 12/516332 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for attachment for a syringe or a cartridge.
This patent application is currently assigned to ARZEIMITTEL GMBH APOTHEKER VETTER & CO. RAVENSBURG. Invention is credited to Joachim Glocker.
Application Number | 20100030160 12/516332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39262618 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100030160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glocker; Joachim |
February 4, 2010 |
ATTACHMENT FOR A SYRINGE OR A CARTRIDGE
Abstract
The invention relates to an attachment (1) or a cartridge
comprising a sealing element (5) having an opening (9) for a medium
located in the syringe or cartridge or to be introduced into the
syringe (3) or cartridge. The attachment (1) is characterized by an
actuating device (11) which, in a first functional position, exerts
a force on the wall of the opening (9) in such a way that the
opening (9) is closed, and leaves the opening (9) open in a second
functional position.
Inventors: |
Glocker; Joachim;
(Weingarten, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
ARZEIMITTEL GMBH APOTHEKER VETTER
& CO. RAVENSBURG
Ravensburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
39262618 |
Appl. No.: |
12/516332 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 12, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP07/10844 |
371 Date: |
May 26, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 39/28 20130101;
A61M 2005/3128 20130101; A61M 5/28 20130101; A61M 2005/3103
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/221 |
International
Class: |
A61M 5/315 20060101
A61M005/315 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 058 719.7 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. An attachment for a syringe or a cartridge comprising: a
sealing element having an opening for a medium located in the
syringe or cartridge or to be introduced into the syringe or
cartridge; an actuating device for exerting a force on a wall of
the opening in a first functional position such that the opening is
closed, and leaves the opening open in a second functional
position; wherein the sealing element includes a conical section
through which the opening extends and the actuating device includes
a passage channel with an actuating region acting on the conical
section, the actuating region being formed by a conical widening of
the passage channel, and the passage channel being aligned with the
opening in the sealing element.
15. The attachment according to claim 14, wherein the actuating
device and the sealing element are designed for repeated opening
and closing the opening.
16. The attachment according to claim 14, wherein the sealing
element includes elastic material.
17. The attachment according to claim 14, wherein the sealing
element is made of an elastic material.
18. The attachment according to claim 16, wherein the opening is
left open due to the inherent elasticity of the material of the
sealing element.
19. The attachment according to claim 14, wherein the actuating
device includes an actuating element movable in relation to a base
body of the attachment.
20. The attachment according to claim 19, further comprising a
locking device interacting with the actuating element in such a way
that the actuating element is held in at least one position in a
closed way.
21. The attachment according to claim 19, wherein the actuating
element is displaceable in the direction of the passage channel of
the actuating device.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an attachment for a syringe or a
cartridge with a sealing element according to the preamble of claim
1. Attachments of the kind discussed inhere are known. They are
suitable for tightly sealing the interior of the syringe or
cartridge and to protect against impurities. It is known to use a
piercing membrane for sealing syringes or cartridges among others
in connection with an attachment of the kind discussed herein. It
has been shown, that particles can be released when the membrane is
pierced that can enter the interior of the syringe or cartridge and
are then possibly administered with the content of the
syringe/cartridge to a patient.
[0002] Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an
attachment that omits said disadvantage.
[0003] In order to solve said object, an attachment is proposed,
comprising the characteristics mentioned in claim 1. It comprises a
sealing element with an opening, via which a liquid can be
introduced into or removed from the syringe or cartridge. The
attachment is characterized by an actuating device that interacts
with the sealing element and which closes or releases the opening
therein. This is achieved by the actuating device exerting a force
on the wall of the opening in a first functional position in such a
way that the opening is closed. In a second functional position, no
force or at least only a minor force is exerted on the wall, so
that the opening is open. Thus, the sealing element is designed in
such a way that piercing of the material of the sealing element is
not necessary for creating an opening to the interior of the
syringe or cartridge. In fact, an opening is closed or left open by
means of an actuating device. Thus, it is impossible that any
particles are detached from the sealing element that can reach into
the interior of the syringe or cartridge and thus can reach into a
patient with an injection liquid.
[0004] A particularly preferred embodiment of the attachment is
where the actuating device and the sealing element are designed in
a way such that opening and closing the opening can be
repeated.
[0005] Further designs result from the remaining sub claims.
[0006] The invention is further explained by means of the drawings
in the following, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first
embodiment of an attachment with a closed opening;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the embodiment
according to FIG. 1 with an opened opening;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a second
embodiment of an attachment with a closed opening and
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the embodiment
according to FIG. 3 with an opened opening.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an attachment 1 for a syringe 3 with a sealing
element 5, housed inside the base body 7 of the attachment 1, being
designed in a hollow way and comprising an opening 9. The
attachment 1 comprises an actuating device 11, interacting with the
sealing element 5 and being in a first functional position in which
the opening 9 in the sealing element 5 is closed. The interior 13
of the syringe 3 is thus tightly sealed.
[0012] The embodiment of the syringe 3 shown here comprises a
protrusion 15, onto which the attachment 1 is fastened. The
protrusion 15 is hollow inside, so that the interior 13 of the
syringe 3 has a fluid connection with the opening 9 in the sealing
element 5 via an inlet 16. Because of the opening 9 being closed,
the interior 13 is hermetically sealed and is protected against
impurities. The sealing element 5 is preferably made of a
thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), providing a high degree of safety
against microbiological impurities.
[0013] The actuating device 11 comprises a passage channel 17 that
is aligned with the opening 9. As an example, a projection 19 is
provided here on the upper side of the actuating device 11 facing
away from the syringe 3, having a cap 21 for a cannula 23 that is
at least regionally inserted, preferably glued, into the passage
channel 17 of the actuating element 11. It is also possible to mold
the cannula 23 into the base body of the actuating device 11 or to
fasten it by means of a plastic injection molding process. It
should be specifically stated here, that the attachment 1 can be
provided with any medical connection and that the cannula 23 and
the cap 21 are only indicated as an example.
[0014] With the embodiment described here, the base body 7 of the
attachment 1 is designed as a sleeve. It only surrounds the
protrusion 15 and not the syringe 3. It should be also pointed out,
that the connection of the attachment 1 on the syringe 3 can be
freely chosen. It is important, that the sealing element 5 can seal
the interior 13 of the syringe. Therefore, the attachment 1 is
designed in a cap shape and houses a sealing element 5 that is
preferably designed in a cap shape. This can be inserted or
injected into the base body 7 of the attachment 1. It comprises a
slightly conical region 25 and a sealing region 27 that can close
the access 16 to the interior 13 of the syringe 3. The outlet 9 is
provided in said sealing region 27, that is to say in the
embodiment according to FIG. 1, in a conical section 29 that
extends upward in the direction of the actuating device 11 as cone
and thus comprises a cone sleeve shaped outer wall.
[0015] The actuating device 11 acts on the conical section 29 of
the sealing element 5 in such a way that a force is exerted from
the outside on said section, so that the wall of the outlet 9 is
displaced to the inside and the outlet 9 is thus closed. Therefore,
the actuating device 11 comprises an actuating region 31 that is
formed here by a conical widening of the passage channel 17. The
inner contour of the conical widening is adapted to the outer
contour of the conical section 29 in such a way that the widening
lies flat against the conical section 29 and thus forces the
material of the sealing element 5 towards the inside and closes the
opening 9. The actuating region 31 can also be formed by a
cylindrical region being provided with a step that presses from the
outside on the conical section 29 and thus closing the opening
9.
[0016] The actuating device 11 comprises a displaceable actuating
element 33 in relation to the base body 7 of the attachment that is
arranged coaxially to the opening 9 in the direction of a perceived
middle axis of the opening 9 relative to the base body 7 of the
attachment 1 and comprising the actuating region 31.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows the actuating device 11 in a first functional
position. In this position, the actuating element 33 is displaced
towards the bottom, that is to say in the direction of the sealing
element 5, so that the conical widening of the passage channel 17,
that is to say the actuating region 31, exerts a pressure force on
the conical section 29 of the sealing region 27 from the outside
and closes the opening 9. The actuating element 33 is for example
designed in a cylindrical way and extends through a recess 35 into
the base body 7. The actuating element 33, as well as the recess 35
have a preferred cylindrical design.
[0018] A locking device 37 is provided here, that holds the
actuating device 11 in the position depicted in FIG. 1 in a closed
manner. The term closed manner, stands here for the actuating
element 33 not being able, particularly not accidentally, to be
moved from a first functional position as depicted in FIG. 1, so
that the opening 9 is securely closed. On the outside of the
actuating element 33 at least one notch is provided for example,
engaging in a recess or groove in the inner surface of the recess
35, so that the actuating element 33 is securely held in the first
functional position.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the attachment 1 depicted in
FIG. 1 in a second functional position. Same parts are provided
with the same reference numbers, so that no description thereof is
necessary.
[0020] The actuating element 33 was displaced against the force of
the closing device 37 into a second functional position, wherein it
is preferably held again in a closed manner. The actuating device
11, particularly the actuating element 33 thereof, was displaced in
the direction of the middle axis of the opening 9 towards the top,
so that the inner wall of the conical widening of the passage
channel 17 lies at a distance to the outer surface of the conical
section 29 of the sealing region 27 of the sealing element 5. Thus,
the opening 9 can open, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0021] The second functional position of the actuating device 11 or
of the actuating element 33 is chosen in such a way that the force
acting from the conical widening on the conical section 29 from the
outside is so low that the opening 9 can open. Thus, it is not
absolutely necessary for the inner wall of the conical widening to
be arranged at a distance to the outer surface of the conical
section 29.
[0022] The material of the sealing element 5 is chosen in a way
such that the opening 9 springs towards the outside due to the
inherent elasticity of the conical section 29 when the inner wall
of the conical widening of the passage channel 17 exerts no or only
a small force on the conical section 29.
[0023] Due to the inherent elasticity of the sealing element 5, the
conical section 29 can be forced several times into its closed
position by the actuating element 33, as shown in FIG. 1. Every
time the actuating device 11 is displaced into the second
functional position according to FIG. 2, that is to say when the
actuating element 33 is displaced to the top, the conical section
29 of the sealing region 27 can widen and release the opening 9.
Thus, the attachment 1 can be easily reclosed and no membrane has
to be pierced when opening an access to the interior 13 of the
syringe 3 from which particles could be removed and could endanger
a patient.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a second
embodiment of an attachment 1 with a closed opening 9. Parts that
are identical or that are functionally equal to the ones from FIGS.
1 and 2 are provided with the same reference numbers.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows an attachment 1 that is attached on a syringe 3
and comprises a sealing element 5. As an example, the attachment 1
is again attached to a protrusion 15 with an access 16 that leads
to the interior 13 of the syringe 3 and aligns with an opening 9 in
the sealing element 5. Said sealing element surrounds the
protrusion 15 with a cylindrical region 25 and comprises a sealing
region 27.
[0026] With the embodiment shown here, the sealing region 27
comprises a cylindrical section 29', into which the opening 9 also
extends and which is also aligned with the access 16.
[0027] It is also shown here, that the sealing element 5 can
preferably also be designed as sealing disc, from which the
cylindrical section 29' would then originate.
[0028] On the upper end of the base body 7 of the attachment 1
facing away from the syringe 3, a protrusion 19 for a cap 21 is
provided which surrounds a cannula 23. It has to be mentioned here,
that the cannula is only shown as an example. Any medical
connection can be provided here.
[0029] An actuating device 11 is also provided here, comprising an
actuating element 33, acting on the opening 9. Here however, the
actuating element 33 can not be displaced in the direction of the
middle axis of the opening 9, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but acts
laterally on the cylindrical section 29' and thus exerts a force on
the wall of the opening 9, so that the opening is closed in a first
functional position of the actuating element 33, as shown in FIG.
3.
[0030] The actuating device 11 acts on the cylindrical section 29'
of the sealing region 27 of the sealing element 5 due to a recess
35 in the base body 7 of the attachment 1.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the attachment 1 depicted in
FIG. 3, wherein the actuating device 11 is arranged in the second
functional position, in which the actuating element 33 does not
exert a force on the cylindrical section 29' from the outside, but
is arranged at a distance thereto. The actuating element 33 could
also rest against the outer side of the cylindrical section 29'. It
is important, that the force exerted by the actuating element 33 is
so low, that the wall of the opening 9 is not indented, as shown in
FIG. 3.
[0032] Due to the inherent elasticity of the sealing element 5,
which is preferably also made of TPE, the opening 9 is closed under
force action by the actuating element 33, that is to say it can be
effectively squeezed off. With a lower force of the actuating
element 33 or when lifting the actuating element 33 from the
cylindrical section 29' however, the opening 9 is opened again. The
opening 9 can thus be opened and closed several times, without it
being necessary to pierce a membrane in order to reach the interior
13 of the syringe 3. This ensures that no particles are dislodged
from a membrane, which could lead to endangering a patient.
[0033] The conically pointed end of the actuating element 33 at the
side facing the cylindrical section 29' can also be designed in a
more or less blunt way. The force acting on the cylindrical section
29' that compresses the wall of the opening 9 and leads to a
closure is important. One or a plurality of actuating elements
acting on the cylindrical section 29' can be provided, that are
arranged in the longitudinal direction of the opening 9 in a
displaced way or in a perceived plane, whereon the opening 9 is
aligned perpendicular, opposite from or in a star shape to the
cylindrical section 29'.
[0034] The actuating device 11 can comprise a pivotable actuating
element 33 that is pivoted through the recess 35 against the
cylindrical section 29' in a lateral way. It is also perceivable,
to insert a screw into the wall of the base body 7 of the
attachment 1, which is screwed more or less far into the direction
of the cylindrical section 29' and causes the opening 9 to stay
closed or open.
[0035] Furthermore, it is also perceivable to press the actuating
element 33 through a sleeve that can be displaced in the direction
of the opening 9 with a more or less strong force towards the
inside against the cylindrical section 29', for example through a
sliding or threading sleeve, in order to close the opening 9 in a
first functional position and to release the opening 9 in a second
functional position.
[0036] Generally this applies also for the embodiment according to
FIGS. 1 and 2: The actuating element 33 described therein is axial
due to tensile and pressure forces, that is to say, displaceable in
the direction of the opening 9. It is possible, to design the
actuating element 33 as a screw with an actuating region 31 that is
screwed more or less far into the recess 35 and thus acts on the
conical section 29 with a more or less strong force and thus closes
the opening 9 or releases the opening 9.
[0037] The explanations convey that the attachment 1 can also be
directly put on the base body 7 of the syringe 3, so that the
protrusion 15 may be omitted. The design of the sealing element 5
with the conical section 29 or with the cylindrical section 29' is
important. In this case, the sealing element 5 may also be designed
as a disc.
[0038] In FIGS. 1 to 4, a retaining ring H was provided on the end
of the attachment 1 facing the syringe 3 as an example, that is
connected to the base body 7 of the attachment 1 via a
predetermined braking line and which is put on a fastening ring B
in a closing manner, that is attached on the syringe 3 or the
cartridge, in this case at the protrusion 15. This embodiment may
also be omitted.
[0039] Finally it should be mentioned here, that the attachment 1
can not only be used with a syringe 3, but also with a
cartridge.
[0040] Both examples of embodiments of the attachment 1 according
to FIGS. 1 and 2 or according to FIGS. 3 and 4 have in common, that
the opening 9 in the sealing element 5 that creates a connection to
the interior 13 of the syringe 3, can be opened and closed several
times.
[0041] Thus it is possible to administer the content of a syringe 3
in a plurality of individual doses to one or several patients. The
syringe 3 can be easily closed between each application in a simple
manner, for example also for exchanging the cannula 23.
[0042] It is also possible to fill the syringe 3 with a medium and
to add it to a freeze drying process with the opening 9 being
opened. The obtained lyophilisate can then be securely enclosed in
a syringe or cartridge by closing the opening 9.
[0043] It is for example also possible to apply a vacuum to the
interior 13 of the syringe 3, to introduce the canulla 23 into a
vein of a patient and to then open the opening 9 in order to take
blood due to the vacuum in the syringe. Thereafter, the syringe can
be closed in a simple manner by means of the actuating device 11,
that is to say, the opening 9 is sealed off by means of the
actuating element 33.
* * * * *